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(N6 Model.) 2 sheets-sheet J. YOUNG.

FIRE ALARM SIGNAL BOX.

N0. 313,040. Patented Feb. 24, 1885.

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-JOIIN YOUNG, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO WESTERN ELECTRIC COLWIPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

FIRE-ALARM SlGNAL-BOX- SPECIFICATION forming part or Letters Patent No. 313,0f0, lated February 24, 1855.

Application filed March l, 1884. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern,.-

ment in Attachments l'or Break-Wheels of Fire-Alarm Signal-Boxes, of which the following is a full, clear, concise. and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part ot' this speciiication.

My invention herein described relates to automatic tire-alarms; and it consists in an attachment to the break-wheel' of the alarmbox.

In my application for United States Letters Patent filed May 2l, 1883, I have described and claimed means for arresting` the character-wheel before it has completed a whole revolution, in order that the circuit of the box may be left open after the signal has been sent in to the patrol-station, so that there may be no interference ot" signals from other boxes. This break-wheel or character-wheel is preferably constructed as described in said application, so that the number of the box may be indicated twice upon the register at the centralotfice at each revolution. I have found that it not un frequently happens that the circuit will be closed momentarily through a signal-box. The break-wheel is thus started; but as the circuit is immediately left open again only a single dot or dash will be indicated upon the register at the central station, and while this will indicate trouble it will not be sufcient to locate the box or building in which the trouble exists. The momentary closing of the circuit of a box is sometimes caused by a jar which shakes the mercury in a thermostat; or a cross may be made from any cause back of the break-wheel. My invention herein is designed to locate a box which has thus been accidentally turned ou, while the signal may be distinguished from a signal caused by heating the thermostat.

My invention consists in providing means for completing a ground-connection in combination with the break wheel, whereby the circuit of thebox will be necessarily closed during a portion of its revolution, so that in case the circuit has been momentarily closed the number ot' the box may be registered at the patrol-station once only, or a less number of times than in the case of a true alarm. The fault is thus located, while no confusion is caused between false and true alarms.

In the drawings, which are illustrative of my invention, Figure l is a front elevation of a iire-alarm provided with my attachment. Fig. 2 is a detailed view of my attachment applied to the break-wheel. Fig. 3 is a diagram showing a modification thereof.

Lilie parts are indicated by similarl letters of reference in the different figures.

i The break-wheel c is operated, in the usual manner, by means oi'Vclock-work when the battery is closed through the electro-magnet, and the number of the boxin this instance 21S-is sent in twice. Asillustrated in Fig. 3,abattery, b, at the patrol-station is connected through the electro -magnet c, and thence to the circuitspring d of the break-WheeLand thence ordinarily, as shown, through the break-wheel, and thence by any suitable connection, e, through one or more thermostats, j', and thence to ground. If,now,the circuit ofthe box should be closed only for an instant between the contactpiece or binding-poste and the ground, itis evident that the wheel will be set in motion, but that, as the circuit is opened again at once, the number of the box would not be sent into the patrol-station unless some other means were provided for closing the circuit. The means which I have provided, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, consist of the arm or lever g, which is operated by the piece h, carried by the wheel, and thus serves to close the ground-circuiti at point 7c during about one-halt' of the revolution of the wheel, so that the number of the box will be sent in once, even though .the ordinary circuit of the box through the thermostat might be left open.

The circuits of the box may be traced as follows: Beginning with the binding-post b', with lwhich the line from the patrol-station is connected, the circuit is closed through the electro-magnet c, and thence to the circuit-spring d, and thence through the break-wheel a, and thence through the metallic'portions of the box to point Z, and thence to the post c, which is connected to the thermostats throughout the building in which the box is placed.

The usual switch, m, is provided for shunting out the box.

When a connection is made from post e to ground, the arm n ot' the character or break wheel is set in motion by the action of the clock -work. It" the circuit remains closed from binding-post e to ground, the number ot` the box willbe sent in to the patrol-station twice, or as many times as the number is repeated upon the break-wheel. As shown in the drawings, the number 213 will be sent in twice. If, however, the circuit from the postI e should be closed to ground, or crossed inomentarily, the box will be started, but no signal except a dot or dash would be registered at the patrol-station. In order that an aceident ot' this kind may be located, I have provided the extra ground-connection i', which is closed during a portion only oi' the time that the break-wheel is turning. Any convenient device may be used i'or closing and opening this ground-connection.

The lever g (shown in Figs. l and 2) may be attached to any of the older forms ot' box.y As the stud his brought under the semicir cular portion ot' the said arm g, and the said stud comes against the convex side thereof, said arm is turned upon its pivot, thus closing the circuit at c to the ground-connection In Fig. 3 I have shown a modification of my device, which consists in the cam-shaped piece q. provided upon the break-wheel, and the contact-piece 1', which comes against the said cam, closing the circ-uit of the box at point lc io ground, through the connection z', as long as the contact. between the cam and contact-piece remains closed.

Any other convenient mechanical device can be used for closing they circuit to ground during a portion ofthe revolution ofthe breakwheel, in order that false alarms may not cause confusion.

Havingi hus described my invention, I claim as new and desireio secure by Letters Patent- 1. In a ire-alarn1 circuit, a break-wheel provided with characters repeated thereon two or more times, the circuit-spring, clockwork, and starting mechanism, in combination with automatic ground-eircuit-closing mechanism, whereby the circuit is always closed to ground through the break-wheel during a portion of the revolution of the breakwheel, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, with the break-wheel provided with characters repeated thereon, the re-alarm-circuit spring, the clock-work, and starting mechanism, of a normally open ground'connection, and switching apparatus, whereby the tire-alarm circuit is automatically closed to said ground-connection during a portion of each revolution of the breakwheel, whereby the number of the box will be sent in once only when the circuit has been momentarily closed so as to start the breakrwheel accidentally.'

In witness whereof I hereunto subscribe my name this 25th day of January, A. D. 1884.

JOHN YOUNG.

Vit n esses:

PAUL A. STALEY, C. C. SHEPHERD. 

